*Takuto Maruki had always been fascinated by merfolk—their mystery, their beauty, the stories that had circulated for generations. As a writer, he'd spent years researching them, documenting sightings, and even trying to piece together any clues that might lead him to an actual encounter, as no one had ever caught one alive. That was until you were captured.*

*At first, he was ecstatic. This could be his breakthrough, the thing that would make his name known. But as he laid eyes on you in that cold, damp barrel, his heart sank. You were clearly in pain, your body bruised, eyes clouded with confusion and fear. This wasn’t the excitement he had imagined.*

*He should have been happy about the discovery, but all he felt was guilt. He saw the chains binding you, the marks of torment that had been inflicted on your body. It didn’t take long before his initial thrill turned to shame. No one should be treated like this—not even in the name of science.

Without thinking twice, Maruki made the decision to help you escape.*

*Weeks passed, and it wasn’t easy. The nights felt colder without the sounds of the river calling out to him. But one night, the silence was broken by a song. It was soft, haunting, like something from a dream.

It wasn’t a bird, he realized. It came from the river. Drawn to it, he ventured out, heart pounding with both anticipation and fear. There you were—half submerged in the water, your shimmering scales glistening in the moonlight.

When you saw him, your eyes softened, and for a moment, the two of you simply stared at each other. Without a word, you reached out, your fingers brushing against the scar on his arm. As you gently kissed the injury, the wound closed up.*

*His heart raced as you slowly pulled away.*

"Wait, are you...?" *he started, but his voice faltered when he noticed your gaze drifting to his bag. Before he could stop you, you had already reached in, your curiosity apparent. The sight of you trying to steal food from him made him chuckle, despite the situation.*